Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Dec 6;9(12):450.
doi: 10.3390/biology9120450.

Olive Mill Wastes: A Source of Bioactive Molecules for Plant Growth and Protection against Pathogens

Fabio Sciubba  1   2 , Laura Chronopoulou  1 , Daniele Pizzichini  3 , Vincenzo Lionetti  4 , Claudia Fontana  5 , Rita Aromolo  5 , Silvia Socciarelli  5 , Loretta Gambelli  6 , Barbara Bartolacci  7 , Enrico Finotti  6 , Anna Benedetti  5 , Alfredo Miccheli  2   8   9 , Ulderico Neri  5 , Cleofe Palocci  1   9 , Daniela Bellincampi  4   9
Affiliations
Review

Olive Mill Wastes: A Source of Bioactive Molecules for Plant Growth and Protection against Pathogens

Fabio Sciubba et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

Olive oil production generates high amounts of liquid and solid wastes. For a long time, such complex matrices were considered only as an environmental issue, due to their polluting properties. On the other hand, olive mill wastes (OMWs) exert a positive effect on plant growth when applied to soil due to the high content of organic matter and mineral nutrients. Moreover, OMWs also exhibit antimicrobial activity and protective properties against plant pathogens possibly due to the presence of bioactive molecules including phenols and polysaccharides. This review covers the recent advances made in the identification, isolation, and characterization of OMW-derived bioactive molecules able to influence important plant processes such as plant growth and defend against pathogens. Such studies are relevant from different points of view. First, basic research in plant biology may benefit from the isolation and characterization of new biomolecules to be potentially applied in crop growth and protection against diseases. Moreover, the valorization of waste materials is necessary for the development of a circular economy, which is foreseen to drive the future development of a more sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: Olea europaea L.; bioactive molecules; oligosaccharides; olive mill wastes; phenols; plant growth; plant nutrition; plant protection.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Olive Oil. [(accessed on 29 October 2020)]; Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/plants-and-plant-produc....
    1. Khdair A., Abu-Rumman G. Sustainable Environmental Management and Valorization Options for Olive Mill Byproducts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. Processes. 2020;8:671. doi: 10.3390/pr8060671. - DOI
    1. Souilem S., El-Abbassi A., Kiai H., Hafidi A., Sayadi S., Galanakis C.M. Olive Mill Waste. Elsevier; Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 2017. Olive oil production sector: Environmental effects and sustainability challenges; pp. 1–28.
    1. Dermeche S., Nadour M., Larroche C., Moulti-Mati F., Michaud P. Olive mill wastes: Biochemical characterizations and valorization strategies. Process Biochem. 2013;48:1532–1552. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2013.07.010. - DOI
    1. Nadour M., Laroche C., Pierre G., Delattre C., Moulti-Mati F., Michaud P. Structural Characterization and Biological Activities of Polysaccharides from Olive Mill Wastewater. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 2015;177:431–445. doi: 10.1007/s12010-015-1753-5. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources